Wrap stripe mechanism for knitting machines



June 3, 1941. H. G. DICKENS WRAP STRIPE MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINESFiled Jan. 2, 1940 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 lnnn ttorneg June 3, 1941. H. G.DICKENS WRAP STRIPE MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES 7 Sheets-Shet 2Filed Jan. 2, 1940 l'mnentor. Hownno GRADY DICKENS (Ittorneg June 3,1941. mc 2,244,330

WRAP STRIPE MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Jan. l2, 1940 '7Sheets-Sheet 3 Bmaentor Hownno ERA 0v DICKENS Gttomeg l June 3, 1941. H.DICKENS WRAP STRIPE MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Jan. 2, 1940 7Sheets-Sheet 4 Isa '36 4 5 ZZZ I25 5";- 1 453 a w 440 no 7 v n i 1 I W IQ66 Q55 7 I m M m '26? j 1 I u 3maentor:

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C (Ittorneg June 3, 1941. H. G. DICKENS WRAP STRIPE MECHANISM FORKNITTING MACHINES Filed Jan. 2, 1940 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Ennentor: HOWARDGRADY DICKENS Gttorneg June 3, 1941. H. G. DICKENS WRAP STRIPE MECHANISMFOR KNITTING MACHINES 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Jan. 2, 1940 Hownao GrennvDlcxzas Zmventor June 3, 1941. mc s v 2,244,330

WRAP STRIPE MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Jan. 2, 1940 '7Sheets-Sheet 7 3nnentor. Hownno GRADY DICKENS Mat;

Gttorne Patented June 3, 194i 2,244, 3 -TES PATENT" oFFicE WRAP STRIPEMECHANISM FOR.- KNITTING- MACHINES Howard Grady Dickens, ThomasvillarN.0., assignor to Ragan Knitting Company, Thomasville, N. CL, acorporation of North Carolina 7 Application January 2, 1940, SerialNo.312,001

11 Claims. (Cl. (i6 13 5) This invention relates to a knitting machineand more especially to an apparatus for producing a seamless hose,having lengthwise stripes or clocks therein. These stripes are usuallyknitted in the hose by introducing strands of Wrap yarn to spacedselected needles while the body yarn is being knitted; or if desired,the wrap yarn can be knitted in spaced wales and floated over theintermediate wales so as to pro duce a different external appearancefrom the stripes or clocks, in the manner such as disclosed in thepatent to Lawson, Number 1,872,760 of August 23,1932.

Heretofcre, it has been the common practice to produce a hose with wrapstripes therein by means of a circular knitting machine with the wrapyarn feeding mechanism disposed above ie needle circle. In some forms,the wrap yarn feeding mechanism is mounted rotatably on an axis withinthe needle cylinder which is parallel and. eccentric to the axis of thecylinder, and both the feeding mechanism and the cylinder are adapted torotate at the same revolutions pe" miz'iute; however, due to the factthat the diameter of the needle cylinder is much greater than that ofthe feeding means, the rate of travel of the needles is much greaterthan the rate of travel of the feeding means at the point ofintroduction. As a result, it is possible to elevate certain groups ofneedles so that the hooks on the upper ends thereof will engage aparticular wrap strand and knit the same in the stocking, only wherethese needles occur. Nevertheless, by having the wrap yarn feedingmechanism on an axis, parallel and eccentric to the axis of the needlecylinder and Within the needle circle, much difficulty is encounteredwhen inspecting the parts of the needle cylinder, as well as wheninspecting the hose while it is being knitted. In other words, the Wrap,

It is another object of the invention to providev a wrap yarn feeding,mechanism so positioned that the wrap yarns do not have to be guardedfrom contact with the plate which-supports the tain portions of saidattachment being-shown in section;

Figure 2- isa side elevation of the machine looking at the left-handportion of Figure 1, showing the thrust-bar for actuating the body yarnfeeding mechanism, and the thrust bar for actuating the slidable wire orwrap yarn tensioncontrol for thewrap yarn stitch;

Figure 3 isa view' similar to the lower lefthand portion of Figure 2'showingcam means on the main drive for actuating the thrust bar whichcontrols the introduction and withdrawal of the body yarn;

Figure 4; is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 4 -4 inFigure 1 showing the cam means on the maindrum and the thrust bar forraising the wrap yarn at an elevation above the high needles when theheel and toe portions are being knittedand also showing a portion of thethrust bar for controlling the body yarn cutter;

Figure 5 is a sectional viewshowing the cam means on'the main drum forOperating the body strand cutter mechanism when this strand iswithdrawn;

Figure 6 is a sectional View throughthe main drum showing the cam'meansand thrust bar for introducing or withdrawing the double sole yarn, theupper end of said thrust bar being shown in Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view taken along 'theline 1-1 in Figure1;

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 8- 8 inFigure 1;

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view similar to the central portion ofFigure 7 but showing the position of the wrap strands as they passbeneath-the cutter and clamp supporting plate;

Figure 10is a schematic view showing the cam and needle-arrangementemployed in the knittingoperationsandlooking at the inside of the needlecircle; a

Figure 11 isya sectional .view taken. along the 1ine lll lv in Figure10;

Figure 12 is a perspective view of the gap closing ring showniinassociation with the wire for raising the wrap strands above the highnee dles when the heel and toe portions are being knitted;

Figure 13. is a perspective view of the horn and tension control wirewhich are adapted to be disposed within the gap. closing ring showninFigur'e 12 and also within the needle circle when the parts areinassembledposition;

Figure 14 is a perspective view of the upper end of the yarn tubeshowing guiding means integral with the upper end thereof for holdingthe fabric and the attached wrap strands in the proper position when thewrap yarn is not being knitted;

Figure is a View of a stocking made in accordance with the presentinvention.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the numeral l0 denotes ahollow standard of conventional type which is adapted to support theneedle cylinder of a knitting machine (Figures 2 and '7). Rotatablymounted upon the upper portion of this standard is a beveled gear H,which gear is adapted to mesh with another beveled gear l2 on a maindrive shaft M. The gear I has integral therewith a vertically disposedtubular portion l5, around which conventional needle cylinder I6 ismounted, said cylinder having a plurality of radially disposed groovesll therein into which knitting needles l8, I9, and 2| are adapted to beslidably mounted.

The needles l8 and I9 are identical in all respects except for the factthat the needles l8 have short butts and the needles I9 have long butts.Likewise the needles 2!] and 2| are short and long butt needles,respectively, and are positioned at spaced intervals in the needlecylinder to take the wrap yarn. All of these needles are adapted to restupon cam ring 22 when they are in the position shown in the extremeright hand portion of Figure 10. It will be noted that the needles 23and 2| have short and long butt jacks 23 and 24, respectively,thereunder, said jacks being adapted to have their butts move in groove25 in the lower portion of the cam ring 22. As the needles move to theleft, they gradually approach an inclined portion 26 which serves toraise all of the needlesto the same elevation, which is somewhat higherthan the elevation of the needles in the extreme right hand portion ofFigure 10. At the same time, the short butt jacks and long butt jacks 23and 24, respectively, are moved to the left and the butts from thesejacks ride upwardly on inclined surface 21 of movable cam 28. Theincline of this cam surface is such as to force the needles 20 and 2|thereabove to a still higher elevation than that elevation to which theneedles were forced bymeans of the inclined surface 26. The cam 28 isadapted to be moved toward and away from the center of the needlecylinder. When it is desired for the cam surface 21 to engage the buttsof all of the jacks 23 and 24, the cam 23 is pushed inwardlythe maximumamount as shown in Figure 11; whereas if it is desired to contact onlythe long butt jacks 24,-the cam is withdrawn a sufficient amount toclear the short butts of the jacks 23, but at the same time, closeenough to engage the extremities of the long butts of jacks 24.Likewise, if it is desired not to raise either of the needles 20 and 2|,the movable cam 28 can be withdrawn still farther, where the butts ofall the jacks will clear. This movable cam provides means whereby someof the stripes in the hose can be omitted while knitting part of thestocking, and all of them can be put in at another point in the courseof knitting the stocking.

After passing the movable cam 28, the elevated needles 2E] and 2| whichare disposed above the jacks 23 and 24 are adapted to have their buttscontacted by a leveling cam 29 which lowers these needles to anelevation where their butts will contact right-hand stitch cam 4t. Fromthe cam the butts of all of the needles move in contact with cams 4| and42 which deliver them to normal knitting position.

When the needles which are disposed above jacks 23 and 24 have beenraised to elevated position by the cam 28, the hooks on the upper endsthereof are in a position to engage strands 36 of wrap yarn, whichstrands emanate from ports or holes 31 in a rotating disk 38. Disk 38 ismounted upon a suitable shaft 39, which shaft is adapted to rotate in aclockwise manner in Figures 4 and 10. Although the revolutions perminute of the needle cylinder I6 is the same as that of the disk 38, therate of travel of the needles within this cylinder is much greater thanthe rate of travel of the ports 31 in the disk 38 on account of thedifference in diameter of the needle circle and disk 38; consequentlythe elevated needles which are disposed above jacks 23 and 24 willengage the lowermost strand 36 at a point slightly below the hooks andcause the strand to be knitted into the stocking by these needles whenthe needles advance to the knitting point. The low needles whose hooksdo not engage this strand will not knit it.

It should be borne in mind that the conventional body yarn of thestocking is introduced at a point between the disk 38 and the stitch cam42. In other words, the conventional yarn feeding means is disposed at apoint directly above the cam 4| (see Figures 2 and 10).

A conventional sinker ring 45 is adapted to be supported near the top ofthe needle cylinder l6, said sinker ring having conventional sinkers 46therein which sinkers are disposed between the needles. The sinkers areadapted to engage the loops of the fabric, such as a stocking 41 whileit is being knitted.

By observing Figure 1, it will be seen that the sinker ring 45 hasspaced projections 48 and 49 near the front side thereof in which bolts50 and 5| are adapted to be threadably secured. The

proximate ends of these bolts are disposed upon opposed sides of a post52 with the conventional clearance, which post extends upwardly from atable member 53 therebelow. Member 53 also supports another post 54which extends upwardly and has pivoted to the upper end thereof as at55, a latch ring 56, and this latch ring is adapted to be latched inposition to the upper end of the post 52 by any suitable means such as aspring latch 51.

Pivotally secured to the latch ring 56 as at 58, are body yarn feedfinger 59 and double sole strand feed finger 60. These fingers areadapted to have strands 6| and 62 respectively pass therethrough, and befed to all of the needles I8 therebelow at a point slightly in advanceof the stitch cam 42 (see Figure 10).

Body yam feeding mechanism The body yarn 6| is introduced and withdrawnby means of finger 59, said finger being adapted to be raised or loweredby means of a vertically disposed thrust bar 65 resting upon a main drum66 in the manner shown in Figure 3. This drum has cams 61 and 68thereon, said cams being so positioned upon the drum as to provide lowplaces 69 and 10 therebetween. When the lower end of the thrust bar 65is in the position shown on the main drum in Figure 3, the machine isknitting in high heel portion 12 of the stocking 41 (see Figure 15).When this high heel portion is being knitted by body yarn 6|, thereinforcing yarn 62 is also being introduced for a part of each courseat the beginning of heel portion 13; however, the end of cam 61 contactsthe thrust bar 65 thereby raising the body yarn away from the needles sothat it will not be initiated. Of course at this time a suitableconventional heel yarn '63 will be introduced by a finger 6 5 (Figure l)in a Well known manner such as described in connection with finger 53,so that the heel portion 13 will be knit. After the heel has beenknitted the cam 61 rides out from beneath the thrust bar 65, and thebody yarn zfii and double sole yarn.62 are again introduced, at whichtime double sole foot portion M tFigure. .15)v is being knitted. Thenthe blank space .69 has been traversed, the foot portion 14 is completedand .atthat time, the'thrustbarfi5 will ride upon the cam 68 to withdrawthe body yarn. The double sole yarn will be withdrawn by mechanism to belaterdescribed. Then the fingeriill will again 'be actuated byamechanism such as described in connection with finger 5i! to -againintroduce yarn 63 while toe portion 18 is knitted. The thrust bar65-continues to ride on the-carntil until top H of the next succeedingstocking isknittedat which-time thebar 65 will ifallpff cam-58 onto thelow space and remain on this space until leg portion 18 is knitted.

Double ,sole yam feeding mechanism The-mechanism which isemployed forfeeding the reinforcing strandBZ during knitting of the high heelportion 12 and foot portion 14 of the stocking, is shown inFigures l and6. It is seen in Figure .1 that a thrust bar is adapted to engagethelowerintermediate portion of strand feed finger 62 and the lower endof this bar is adapted tobe disposed above the main drum 65 in Figure 6.The main drum 6 6 has cams 82 and 83 onits periphery, these cams beingso spaced as toprovideintermediate low places 84 and 85.

As the. drum $6 rotatesin a clockwise manner in shownin Figure 6 or uponthe low place 84, the

yarn feed fingerfill is in lowered position and feeding the-reinforcingstrand 62 to the needles as the high heel portion 12- of stocking-41 isbeing knitted. Of course, when the cam 82 rides beneath-the lower end ofthe thrust'bar 89, the double-sole yarn is Withdrawn, after which theheel portion 13 is-knit by a conventional yarn feeding'mechanism. Afterbar 80 drops oif the cam 82 the double sole strand 62 is againintroduced'while the machine is knitting the double sole foot portion il and then as the cam 83 rides beneath the thrust bar 80 the yarn isagain withdrawn and-then the toeportion I6 and the top portion "Not thenext succeeding stocking is knitted.

Yam cutting apparatus It will be noted by referring to Figures 1 and 2that the latch ring 56 has a suitable bracket 3! secured thereto by anysuitable means such as screws 88. This bracket has one end thereofcantilevered over the latch ring and towardthe centralrportion thereof..At the central portion of the latch ring a downwardly extending stud 89projects from bracket 81, said stud being adapted'to support a plate 90on the lower end thereof. .This'plate is disposed a slight distanceabove the top of the sinkersand is employed for supportin clamps-92 and93 and cutter 994, said cutter- 94 being'pivoted'as-at 95 directlyabovethe plate 9!! (Figures 1 and 7') The cutter also has ec red to one endthereof, a vertically disposed operating link 96 and the upper end ofthis link is secured to the free end of a horizontally disposed lever9]. Lever ,9-1 is pivoted intermediate its nds as at 98 (Fi ure 4). andis adapted to be normally rotated in a counterclockwise man-. ner inthis figure by means of, a suitable tension spring 99 to hold the cutterin closed position. The other end of the lever 91, is adapted tov becontacted by the upper end of a thrust bar Hill, said thrust'barextending downwardly and having its lower end disposed directly abovemain drum 66 in the mannershown in Figure 5. The reinforced high heelportion 1.2 is being knit when the-baris in the position shown inFigure5. The drum 6.6 has cams 182, I93, Hi4, IE5, IE5 and ill] spacedthereon .at the proper locations. When the drum rotatesso as toadvancethe cam Y [02 past the thrust bar Hill the cutters 94 areactuated toclip, thebody yarn asit is beingewithdrawn at the beginningof the knitting of the heel portion 1,3. As the drum continues to ,ad-Vance and. the cam [03.passes the thrust bar, the heel yarn i3 iswithdrawn and consequently the cutter 94 must operateto clipthe heelyarn after it has been withdrawn. Atthistime, the double sole yarn 2 and,body yarn M are again introduced and remain in knitting position untilthe cam 1.6.4 moves past the thrust baratwhich time the strandstliandfilare withdrawn and clipped. Inthe meantime, the strand 6.3 isintroduced for knitting the toeportion 1-6. The cam servestoclipthewithdrawn toe yarn 63 at the beginning ofa suitable .make upknitted area, not shown, which is disposed between the stockings as theyare successively knitted, to serve as a tie. Thismake up yarnusuallycomprises only a few courses and when it is withdrawn the cam lfiiiserves to operate the cutterto clip the make up yarn. Theyarn thatisused to knit the top portion 11 then introduced. When the top portion Hhas been knitted, the cam I01 rides past the thrust bar it .and servesto clip the top yarn just as the body yarn is introduced.

Striping attachment As heretofore stated, in connection with Figure 10,the'rotating. disk38 has a plurality of strands 3% .of wrapyarnernanating therefrom, which strands are engaged by the'high needles20 and 2! at the feeding point and knitted into the stocking A! to formstripes. vIt will be noted by observin Figures 7 and 15 that each of thestrands .35 leads to a vertical stripe H9 in the stocking. The width ofthis stripe depends largely upon the. number of high needles and thedistance therebetween, which areallowed to engage the strands 3,6. :Itshould be stated, however, that when these needles are lowered toknitting position that the strand 36, is engaged only by the highneedles; consequently, after the knitting of the strand takes place, thewrap strand will be freeto float around with the cylinder l5, one end.of'the strand bein vknitted in the stripe and the other portion of thestrand extending back to the disk :38. In this manner the stripes Ill)are placed in the stocking ll. The number of stripes employed in thestocking usually corresponds to the number of strands which are fedthrough ports 37 in disk 33 to the spaced sets of high needles. However,it might be stated that conventional means previously described inconnection with Figure 10, are provided in the apparatus-for causingsome of the strandstfi to emanate from these ports to be knitted whileothers are caused to be omitted during the knitting of a portion of astocking. For example, the stripes II do not all extend the entirelength of the stocking in Figure 15, but instead, one of the stripesshown extends entirely through both the leg and foot portion while theother two stripes are disposed in the leg portion only of the stocking.

The shaft 39, upon which the disk 38 is mounted (see Figures 1 and '7)is fixedly secured within a hub member I I2, said hub member beingrotatably mounted within bearing H3, which hearing has arcuate legportions II5 extending laterally therefrom, said leg portions beingsecured as at H1 and H0 to the latch ring 56. Also secured to the shaft39 is a yarn disk I by any suitable means such as angle member I2I and aset screw I22. This set screw penetrates a slot I23 in the outstandingleg of the angle member I2I (see Figure '1) and thereby provides meansfor adjusting the position of the shaft 39 axially, so as to cause thedisk 36 and its thread ports 31 to be capable of adjustment relative tothe latch ring 56. The latch ring 56 is cut away as at 56a to form asuitable notch for the reception of the ends of the rotating threadports 31.

The thread disk I20 has a plurality of packages of wrap yarn I25 mountedthereon at spaced intervals. A wrap strand 36 is drawn from each ofthese packages which strand passes through a hole I26 in another diskI21, said disk I21 being also secured upon shaft 39 by any suitablemeans such as set screw I28. After passing through the hole I26, thestrand 36 passes beneath a tension device I30 and then beneath acircular wire I3I and over the hook portion I32 of a wire I33. This wireis pivotally secured in a stud I35 which extends from the disk I21 andhas a tension spring I36 normally rotating the portion I32 away from theface of disk I21 to thereby take up any excess slack in strand 36. Afterthe strand passes over portion I32 it is drawn again through a port I31in disk I21, from whence it passes into longitudinal bores I38 in hubH2, to ports 31. The end of shaft 39 is rotatably mounted in stud shaftI40, which shaft is adjustably secured in supporting member MI by meansof screw I42. When it is desired to raise the latch ring 56, togetherwith the striping attachment, it is necessary to manipulate the latch 51(Figures 1 and 2) as well as to loosen stud shaft I40 and then rotatethe latch ring together with the assembly just described about the point55. In order to produce this rotation, it will also be necessary toloosen the screw I42 so as to slide the stud shaft I40 to the rightuntil the end of shaft 39 is free.

The hub II2 has fixedly secured therearound, a beveled gear I by anysuitable means such as a set screw I5I. The hub II2 likewise has a diskI20 previously described fixedly secured thereon by means of set screwI20a (Figure 1). Meshing with the lower side of the beveled gear I50(see Figure '7) is a beveled pinion I53 on the upper end of a verticallydisposed shaft I54, said shaft having its intermediate portion rotatablymounted in a bracket I55 and bed 53 of the knitting machine. The lowerend of the shaft I54 has a pinion I56 fixedly secured thereon whichmeshes with another beveled gear I51 on the main shaft I4. It can beseen by referring to Figure '1 that shaft I4 forms a common drivingmeans for both the cylinder and the striping attachment. In other wordseach time striping yarn pass is rotated in timed relation to therotation of the cylinder I6.

Double sole cutter apparatus The beveled gear I50 (Figure 8) has a studI60 extending from the face thereof. This stud is adapted to assist inthe operation of the double sole clipping apparatus, when the reinforcedportions 12 and I4 of the stocking 41 are being knitted (Figure 15).Figures 1, '1 and 8 show the mechanism for performing this operation. Itis here seen that the horizontal shaft 98 is rotatably mounted in anupstanding lug I59 which is an integral part of the latch ring 56.Fixedly secured to the end of shaft 98 is an L-shaped member I6I, havinga plate I62 secured to the end. of its horizontal leg. Pivotally mountedas at I63 is a lever I64, one end of said lever extending to the right(Figure 8) and having a T-shaped arcuate cam surface I69 integral withthe extreme right-hand end. A tension spring I10 normally tends torotate the lever I64 in a counter-clockwise manner about point I63(Figure 8) and against a stop III. The normal position of this lever isshown in bold lines in Figure 8 and at this time the stud I60 in thebeveled gear I50, can rotate without contacting the. cam surface I69.The left hand end of this lever has a wire I13 extending laterallytherefrom, which wire is adapted to rest upon I the upper end of athrust bar I14, said thrust bar extending downwardly and having itslower end disposed directly above main drum 66. The drum 66 has cams I16and I11 secured thereon directly in the path of the lower end of thethrust bar I14 and these cams or projections are so spaced upon the drumas to provide blank spaces I16 and I19 therebetween. When the drum 66rotates during a knitting operation, and when the cam I16 rides beneaththe lower end of the thrust bar I14 the lever I64 is rotated in theclockwise manner about point I63 (Figure 8) a suificient amount to causethe cam surface I69 on the right hand upper end thereof to be disposedwithin the path of stud I60. When the beveled gear I50 rotates to causethis stud to contact this cam surface, the right hand lower edge of thelever I64 will be moved downwardly against a laterally extending pinI80, which pin extends from the plate member I62. As the stud I60continues to rotate with the beveled gear, the entire assembly,comprising lever I64, plate I62, L-shaped member I60, shaft 98 and lever91 will be rotated a slight amount in a clockwise manner to dotted lineposition (Figures 4 and 8) to cause the cutter 94 to be opened, and ofcourse immediately after the cutter is opened the double sole yarn willbe drawn therein. Immediately after the yarn is drawn within the cutter,the stud I60 rides off the cam surface I69 to allow the cutter under thetension of spring 99 to be closed upon the withdrawn double sole strand62 (Figure 7). As a result, the yarn will be clipped. It is thereforeseen that for each revolution of the needle cylinder while the high heelportion 12 is being knitted, that the yarn cutter 95 will be actuated toclip the double sole yarn, as it is withdrawn from the stockings.Conventional means are employed for withdrawing the double sole yarn 62for a portion of each course while the high heel and foot portions 12and I4 are being knitted. This means comprises a thrust bar 80, theupper end of which is disposed beneath feed finger (Figure 4). Thesinker ring 45 has a rotating ring I61 on its lower side, said ringhaving a cam surface It}; thereon which contacts projection I of thethrust bar upon each revolution. Upon making this contact, the feedfinger 69 will be raised to withdraw the double sole strand 62 for apart of each course.

It is to beunderstood that the clipping attachment must be operated intimed relation to the double sole yarn feed finger 69 and the doublesole strand '62, which is fed therethrough to the needles. While thethrust bar I14 (Figure 8) is riding on the top of cam I16, the high heelportion I2 is being knitted, but when it rides 01f this cam :onto theblank space I18, the heel portion I3 is started, and consequently therewill be no necessity for the cutter to be operated by the mechanismshown in Figure 8. However, when the double sole foot portion I4 isstarted, the cam 11 rides beneath the thrust bar I'M to cause the cutterto be put inaction again in the same manner previously described.

Gap ring and strand tension control actuatin mechanism By referring toFigure 1, it will be seen that a gap I is provided in the latch ring 59at the throat plate. This gap is provided for the reception of the yarnfeed fingers and it must be closed while the heel and toe portions ofthe stocking are being knitted to keep the needle latches of the highneedles from closing at this point and thereby dropping stitches. Thisgap closing ring is indicated 'by reference character I99, said ringbeing rotatably mounted within the latch ring 59. Figure 12 shows aperspective view of this latch ring. It is here seen that a notch I9-Iis provided in the far side thereof. which notch has steps I92 and I93therein. It is through the notch I 9| and upon the steps I 92 and I93that the wrap strands 36 are adapted to pass during the wrap strandfeeding operation. The relative position of this notch I9I to the ports31 and disk 38 is also clearly shown in Figures 4 and 10. While a strand39 travels along step I92, it is disposed slightly above the hooks ofthe high needles 20 or 2!, but when the strand is rotated to the stepI93 it is at such an elevation that the hooks of the high needles canengagethe same.

The gap ring I has a hole I therein which is engaged by one end of alink I96, said link having its other end pivotally secured to the upperend of a lever I98 (Figures 1 and 2). This lever I93 has its lower endpivoted as at I99 to standard 54. Integral with the lower portion oflever I99 is a laterally extending lug 299, and this lug normally restsdirectly above a projection ZOI on vertically disposed thrust bar 292.The lower end of the thrust bar 202 is isposcd directly above drum 66,which has cams 295 and 293 spaced thereon, within the path of the lowerend of the thrust bar 202, said cams being so spaced as to leave lowplaces 29'! and 298 therebetween. Since it is necessary to rotate thegap closing ring I99 a substantial amount when the heel and toe portionsare being knitted, so as to cause the gap I85 in the latch ring to beclosed, it is necessary to provide the previously described mechanismindicated by the reference characters I96 to 299 inclusive. As the lowerend of the thrust bar 29-2 rides upon the cam 295, the knitting of theheel portion I3 is just begun, and as a result of this rise of"the'thrust bar, the lever I99 will be rotated a slight amount in acounter-clockwise manner in Figure 2 thereby pulling the link I96 to theleft (Figure 2). This action will serve to rotate the gap closing ring I99 in a clockwise direction in Figures 1 and 12 to cause the gap I85 tobe closed. When cam 299 rides beneath the thrust bar 292 a similaraction takes place for the knitting of the toe.

Also during the knitting of the heel and toe portions I3 and I9,respectively, of the stocking, it is desirable to withdraw the tensioncontrol wire Zlil to prevent its end from becoming entangled during thereciprocation of the needle cylinder. In other words, the wire has nofunction, except when the wrap yarn 36 is being knitted. This wire whichis indicated by the reference character Z IO is shown in Figures 1, 4,'7, '9 and 1 3. This wire is slidably mounted in coiled spring ZI I, thecombination of wire ZIG and spring ZI I being commonly known as a Bowdenwire The coiled spring 2 is secured to the exterior surfaceof an arcuatehorn or plate 212, which has notches M3 and I24 therein, whichsubstantially match the notches I92 and I93 in the gap closing ring I90.

The horn H2 is adapted to be located within the needle circle and issupported by an L-shaped member 2I5, which extends upwardly and thenlaterally, the lateral leg of this L-shaped memher having a slot 2|! anda hole 2I9 therein which are penetrated by screws 2I9 and 229respectively (see Figure 1). These screws also are embedded in alaterally extending leaf 22I which is an integral part of one of thearcuate legs I15 (Figures 1 and 4). The purpose of providing the slot2I'I is to facilitate the proper adjustment of the horn member 2I2relative to the needle circle. The coiled wire 2! I (see Figure '2) isclamped as at 239 to the upper end of lever I99, and the wire 2IIJ whichis'slidably mounted within the coiled wire, is fixedly secured to thissame lever as at 23I. When it is desired to withdraw the projecting endof wire 2H1 into the coiled wire 2II, that is so that it will notproject out from the end of the horn during the knitting of the heel andtoe, it is I necessary to rotate the lever I98 in a counterclockwisemanner in Figure 2. Since this withdrawal takes place simultaneouslywith the closing of the gap I85, the same cams namely 295 and 205,previously described, can be used for this purpose. It should be statedthat the function of this wire is to vary the amount of slack within theloops of the wrap yarn as these loops are being knitted.

Figure '7 shows a strand of wrap yarn 39 and its relation to theprojecting tension control wire 2| I]. It is here seen that the centerstrand 35 emanates from a .port 31 and is disposed over the high portionI990! of the gap closing ring I99. It passes downwardly under the hooksof a pair of needles M which have. been previously elevated to engagethis strand at the notch I9I. When the needle cylinder rotates the lastnamed needles a slight distance farther to the left than shown in Figure'7, the strand 36 then passes over the end of wire 210, after which theneedles ZI will be lowered to knit the wrap yarn 39 into the fabric,thereby forming a portion of the stripe Hill. The longer the projectinglength of the wire 230 beyond the end of horn 2I2, the greater will bethe slack. that will be produced in the knitted wrap yarn. By varyingthe projecting length of wire 2I9 the degree of exposure of the knittedstripe can be controlled. In order to normally return the gap closingplate ISO to normal position as shown in Figure 1, a suitable tensionspring 235 is provided. This tension spring likewise serves to maintainthe wire 2I0 in a projected position as shown in Figures 1, 7, 9 and 13.

Wrap yarn lifting mechanism During the knitting of the heel and toe, itis necessary to elevate the wrapping strands 36, so that the same willnot be engaged by high needles as they pass by the disk 38. This actionis produced by an arcuate shaped wire 231 which has a verticallydisposed leg 238 integral therewith, the upper end of which is securedto a lever 239 (Figures 4 and 12). The arcuate portion 231 is disposedbetween the horn 2| 2 and the back of the needles. It is also positioneddirectly beneath the strands of warp yarn 36 and at a position adjacentthe notches I92 and I93 in the gap closing ring I90 and the notches 2 I3and 2I4 in the horn 2I2. The lever 239 has a hole 240 therein which holeis penetrated by a screw 24I (see Figure 4). The screw 24I is secured tothe free end of a lever 242 which, in turn, is pivotally secured as at58 to the latch ring 56. The free end of the lever 242 has a laterallyextending stop 244 integral with the upper portion thereof. andpositioned directly above the right hand end of the lever 239, saidlever 238 being normally rotated in a counterclockwise manner aboutpivot point 24I against said stop by means of a spring 245. Alsoextending laterally from the lever 242 is a stud 246, the lower end ofwhich is normally contacted by the upper end of a vertically disposedthrust bar 241, and the lower end of this thrust bar normally restsdirectly above the drum G6, which drum has at this location, a pair ofcams 250 and 25I on its periphery. These cams are so spaced as toprovide low places 252 and 253 therebetween. When the lower end of thethrust bar 241 rides upon the cam 250 during the knitting of the heelportion 13, of the stocking. The lever 242 together with the arcuateWire 231 is raised from the position shown in the drawings andto such anelevation that the strands 36 which emanate from. the ports 31 will beraised sufiiciently high so as to allow the high needles 2!] and 2I topass thereunder without engaging the same. Likewise whenthe thrust bar241 rides upon the cam 25I, the toe is being knitted and the strands 36are again raised in the same manner as when the heel portion is knitted.When the thrust bar rests on the low places 252 and 253, the otherportions of the stocking are being knitted and at that time the wire 231is lowered along with the wrap strands 36 so as to be in a position forbeing engaged by the high needles 20 and 2| to be knitted into thestocking.

It is very desirable that the arcuate portion 231 remain substantiallyhorizontal while it is being raised. In order to produce this result, itis necessary to pivotally secure this member to the lever 239 as at 24Ias previously described. Also the vertical leg 238 is adapted to contactthis projecting end of a plate 255 (see Figures 1 and 4). During theraising of the arcuate portion, it is necessary to rotate the lever 242upwardly, but since the vertical leg 238 normally contacts the end ofplate 255, this leg will be held in a substantially vertical position atall times. The plate 255 has a slot 251 therein which is penetrated bythe screw 220 previously described. This slot is pro vided so that theproper adjustment of the plate can be effected relative to vertical leg238.

Fabric tube guiding mechanism When the wrap yarn 36 is not beingknitted, it is necessary to hold the same in such a position that byraising selected needles slightly above their normal elevation at thefeeding point the strand can be engaged. Of course, the wrap yarncontinues to rotate around with the needle cylinder I6 when it is notknitted, at which time it merely floats beneath the plate in the mannershown in Figures '7 and 9. In order that the wrap yarn may besufiiciently removed from the needles, it is necessary to provide afabric support at a point adjacent the notch ISI in the gap closing ringI 96 and adjacent notches 2 I3 and 2 I4 in horn 2 I 2. This supportingmechanism is clearly shown in Figures 7 and 14, and comprises a pair ofwires 26I and 262 which are bent in a substantially inverted U-shapedmanner with their ends secured to the upper end of a tubular memher 263.The upper portions of these wires are adapted to be disposed directlybeneath the knitted fabric to support the same at a point where the wrapstrands are introduced. In other words, it can be seen by referring toFigure 7 that the fabric is held in a substantially horizontal positionfor a considerable distance from the needles at the point where the wrapstrands are first engaged by the high needles 20 and 2|.

This tubular member 263 is telescopically mounted in the upper end of afabric tube 265, said tube extending downwardly within the needlecylinder and having integral with its lower end a vertically disposedrod 266. This rod is adjustably mounted in a stud 261 which extendsinwardly from the interior of hollow standard I0. A set screw 268 isprovided so that the height of the fabric tube 265 and its associatedtubular member 263 in the upper end thereof can be varied. I

It is therefore seen that a simple striping attachment has also beenprovided which can be mounted upon a knitting machine which attachmentwill not obstruct the visibility of the operating parts or interferewith the accessibility thereto. It also has a very desirable function inthat the yarn will travel beneath the plate 90 and the clamping andcutting members 92 and 93 and 94 thereabove of its own accord withoutthe necessity of any guiding mechanism.

In the drawings and specification, there has been set forth a preferredembodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed,they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not forpurposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth inthe appended claims.

I claim:

1. A circular knitting machine having means for feeding a body yarn tothe needles, a clamp and cutter for the body yarn mounted within theneedle circle, means disposed outside the needle circle for feeding aplurality of wrap yarns to selected needles, and means for engaging thewrap yarns and raising them out of the path of the needles duringreciprocatory knitting,

2. In a circular knitting machine having a throat plate provided withyarn feed fingers and also having a clamp and cutter disposed within theneedle circle, rotary means disposed at all times wholly outside theprojected needle circle and in advance of the throat plate for feeding aplurality of wrap yarns to selected needles at a point low enough topass in a straight line below the clamp and cutter between the pointwhere the wrap yarns are knitted in the fabric and the point of feeding,and means for raising the wrap yarns during reciprocatory knitting,

3. In a circular knitting machine having a clamp and cutter disposedwithin the needle circle, means for feeding a main knitting yarn to theneedles, rotary means disposed at all times wholly outside the projectedneedle circle and in advance of the point where the main knitting yarnis fed for feeding a plurality of wrap yarns to selected needles, thewrap yarns being fed at a point outside the needle circle suflicientlylow to travel in a straight line from the feeding means to the fabric asit revolves so that it passes unassisted beneath the clamp and cutter,and means for raising the wrap yarns during reciprocatory knitting.

4. In a circular knitting machine having means for feeding a mainknitting yarn to the needles, and having a clamp and cutter for the mainyarn disposed inside the needle circle, a member mounted in advance ofthe main yarn feeding means for rotation on an axis at substantially aright angle to the axis of the needle circle, feeding means carried bythe member and having feed eyes disposed at all times outside theprojected cylinder defined by the needles for passing successively aplurality of wrap yarns into contact with selected needles of theknitting machine, the feeding means being disposed low enough so thatthe wrap yarns will pass unassisted beneath the clamp and cutter whiledefining a straight line between the feeding means and the point wherethe wrap yarns are knitted into the fabric, and means for raising thewrap yarns during reciprocatory knitting.

5. A circular knitting machine having a plurality of needles arranged ina circle and having means for feeding a main knitting yarn, a heel andtoe yarn and a double sole yarn to the needles and also having a clampand cutter for said yarns arranged within the-needle circle, rotarymeans disposed outside the circle and having feed eyes disposed at alltimes outside the projected cylinder defined by the needles for feeding'a plurality of wrap yarns to selected needles at a point low enough sothat the wrap yarns as they move with the fabric being knitted will passunguided beneath the clamp and cutter, and means for raising the wrapyarns during reciprocatory knitting.

6. A circular knitting machine having a plurality of needles arranged ina circle and having means for feeding a main knitting yarn, a heel andtoe yarn and a double sole yarn to the needles and also having a clampand cutter for said yarns arranged within the needle circle, meansdisposed outside the circle for feeding a plurality of wrap yarns toselected needles at a point low enough so that the wrap yarns as theymove with the fabric being knitted will pass unguided beneath the clampand cutter, and means for raising the wrap yarns during reciprocatoryknitting.

'7, A circular knitting machine having a plurality of needles arrangedin a circle and having means for feeding a main knitting yarn, a heeland toe yarn, and a double sole yarn to the needles and also having aclamp and cutter for said yarns arranged within the needle circle, meansdisposed outside the circle for feeding a plurality of wrap yarns toselected needles at a point low enough so that the wrap yarns as theymove with the fabric being knitted will pass unguided beneath the clampand cutter, and means for supporting the fabric being knitted to preventthe wrap yarns from pulling it into con tact with the needles as theypass the wrap yarn feeding means.

8. A circular knitting machine having a plurality of needles arranged ina circle and having means for feeding a main knitting yarn, a heel andtoe yarn, and a double sole yarn to the needles and also having a clampand cutter for said yarns arranged within the needle circle, meansdisposed outside the circle for feeding a plurality of wrap yarns toselected needles at a point low enough so that the wrap yarns as theymove with the fabric being knitted will pass unguided beneath the clampand cutter, means for raising the wrap yarns during reciprocatory knitting, and means for supporting the fabric being knitted to prevent thewrap yarns from pulling it into contact with the needles as they passthe wrap yarn feeding means.

9. In a knitting machine having means for feeding a regular yarn, meansdisposed substantially a quarter circle in advance of the regular yarnfeeding means and all portions of which are at all times outside theprojected needle circle for feeding a striping yarn, a rotatable needlecylinder having a circle of needles, a clamp and cutter plate disposedwithin the needle circle, means for elevating all of said needles to thesame elevation as the cylinder rotates, additional means for elevatingspaced selected needles to a still higher elevation into the path of thestriping yarn, said striping yarn feed means being disposed at a rightangle to the axis of said cylinder whereby the yarn emanating therefromwill traverse the path of said needles raised to a still higherelevation, the point of feeding of the striping yarn being low enough sothat the striping yarn will pass unguided beneath the clamp and cutterplate and will not interfere with the clamp and cutter disposed thereon.

10. A circular knitting machine comprising in combination, a circularseries of needles, a plate supported within the circle of needles andhaving a yarn cutter and clamp mechanism for the main knitting yarn,means for introducing the main knitting yarn, means disposed at alltimes outside the projected needle circle and in advance of the meansfor introducing the main knitting yarn for presenting one or more lapthreads to selected needles to produce lap stripes, the point of feedingthe lap threads being low enough so that they will pass unguided beneaththe plate and will not interfere with the cutter and clamp mechanism.

11. In a circular knitting machine having means for feeding a mainknitting yarn to the needles, and having a clamp and cutter for the mainyarn, a member mounted for rotation on an axis at an angle to the axisof the needle circle, feeding means carried by the member for passingsuccessively a plurality of wrap yarns into contact with selectedneedles of the knitting machine, the feeding means being disposed lowenough so that the wrap yarns will pass unassisted beneath the clamp andcutter while defining a straight line between the feeding means and thepoint where the wrap yarns are knitted into the fabric, said feedingmeans being at all times outside the projected needle circle and beinglocated approximately degrees in advance of the means for feeding themain knitting yarn.

HOWARD GRADY DICKENS.

